Purpose

The Cabinet will be asked to consider the
recommendations from the West Suffolk Environment and
Sustainability Reference Group on a review of the Council’s
existing Net Zero target and plan for decarbonising the
Council’s own activities.
 

Decision

Resolved:
 
That:
1.          
The Council’s internal net zero plan is only one part of its
overall approach to tackling the Climate Change and Biodiversity
Emergency in the wider West Suffolk community and economy, be
noted; and in that context
 
2.          
The Council’s own carbon consumption currently stands at just
below 5,000 tonnes of carbon each year and that, despite increases
in the Council’s operational activities (for instance
providing waste collection services to a growing number of domestic
properties), this is 13 per cent lower in absolute terms than in
2019 when the Council first declared a climate emergency, be
noted.
 
3.          
The Council’s activities to reduce the carbon consumed by
third parties (off-site renewable energy investments, grant
schemes, recycling rates, etc.) already prevent at least 7,000
tonnes of carbon a year from entering the atmosphere. Meaning the
Council already saves more carbon indirectly than it emits
directly, be recognised.
 
4.          
As set out in paragraph 4 of Appendix A to Report number
CAB/WS/25/019, the emissions the Council reports on will increase
if it widens its reporting scope to include the total emissions
resulting from the energy it is responsible for procuring for
partners in the Mildenhall Hub. This change will ensure a
consistent reporting methodology across all sites based on the
Council’s energy procurement responsibilities. The change
will also help to ensure that the Council is able to claim grant
funding for energy efficiency improvements, while also being able
to report on the positive impacts of such works, be noted.
 
5.          
The Council has already secured and/or provided funding to remove a
further one thousand tonnes of its own carbon emissions (20 per
cent of the balance) before 2029, and plant 5,000 new trees, be
noted.
 

6.            
The increase in the market cost of technologies as set out in
paragraph 2.19 and Appendix A of this report and approve additional
funding in the sum of up to £250,000 for the installation of
solar canopies at the Mildenhall Hub carpark from the
Council’s existing Net Zero Fund, which will generate an
estimated 553,050kWh and save around £152,000 and 125tCO2 per
annum as detailed in report number CAB/WS/24/051, be noted.
 
7.          
1,540 tonnes of the Council’s remaining carbon emissions (30
per cent) is from grid electricity and that the government’s
Clean Power Action Plan aims to decarbonise Great Britain’s
electricity supply by 2030. Meaning it is likely that the
Council’s emissions from electricity consumption will
naturally reduce as the National Grid gets less carbon intensive,
be noted.
 
8.          
It be recognised that the Council’s original stretch target
to achieve net zero by 2030 has resulted in significant progress
being made but, for reasons outside of the Council’s control
and its available budgets, this is not likely to be achievable; and
therefore
 
9.          
The Council’s first costed route map, contained in Appendix A
of Report number CAB/WS/25/019, as a tool to inform future
decision-making by this authority and any successor unitary
council(s) on achieving net zero for the current carbon emissions
of West Suffolk Council as quickly as possible, be approved.
 
10.       
This new route map, and a revised net zero target of 2039, as the
basis for monitoring the Council’s future progress in carbon
reduction, be adopted.
 
11.       
A communications plan be developed so that the Council’s
updated route to net zero is communicated internally and externally
on the basis explained in this report and specifically highlights
the Council’s other carbon-reduction and biodiversity
contributions.